What Is Speech Therapy?

About Speech Therapy

Speech therapy supports both adults and children, with communication difficulties. Speech therapy can help you to communicate efficiently and effectively. In Australia, those who specialise in this profession are known as Speech Pathologists.

Speech Pathologists in Australia, study for approximately four years to obtain a degree in order to be able to assess, diagnose and treat communication and swallowing disorders. Upon graduation, a Speech Pathologist is awarded with a Bachelor’s degree with full accreditation to treat both adults and children with communication and swallowing difficulties.

Speech Pathologists specialise in the diagnosis and treatment of communication and swallowing disorders. Speech pathology is a very unique and interesting field of study. Speech Pathologists work in a variety of settings providing therapy for people in schools, hospitals, rehabilitation centres and in private practices.

What is speech therapy and who does a speech pathologist see?

Speech Pathologists see both adults and children with cognitive-linguistic, language, literacy, swallowing, stuttering, voice, and motor speech disorders. These disorders may occur early in life (congenital disorder or learning disability), or as a result of a stroke, cancer, brain injury, progressive neurological disease, learning disability, hearing loss, or as a result of complex and/or chronic medical conditions. Speech pathology intervention begins by screening for communication and swallowing disorders, and continues with the assessment, diagnosis and management of these disorders. For more information about conditions managed by a speech therapist click here.

What does speech therapy involve?

A Speech Pathologist will assess and provide differential diagnosis and management plans for patients with swallowing (dysphagia) difficulties, as well as communication disorders relating to speech (apraxia/dysarthria/articulation/phonology/stuttering), language (expressive and/or receptive) and voice. Speech therapy ideally aims to assist individuals to efficiently and effectively communicate; in particular, maximising independence and participation in the community. Therapy programs are tailored to meet the needs of the individual and their family through client-centred and family-centred approaches to management. These evidence-based therapy programs assist in reducing barriers to participation and activity in society in order to optimise a patient’s functional communication. Functional communication goals are ideally tailored to the individual and their family. The benefit of speech therapy in aiding communication is invaluable in improving and restoring quality of life.

Results focused speech therapy in Sydney

This article was written by our speech pathologist Eugene Pillay who is a Speech Pathology Australia member. ENT Clinic Speech Pathology is a speech therapy private practice in Sydney. We can help adults and children with speech and language problems. Call us if you have questions about speech pathology or require speech therapy in Sydney.

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About Eugene Pillay

Eugene Pillay is a Speech Pathologist who sees both children and adults. Since graduating he has worked in a variety of settings including teaching hospitals, community and private practice. Eugene has experience and expertise providing speech therapy for both individuals and groups, working in classrooms, home-based programs, as well as creating and providing resources and information to clients, carers and other professionals.

Committed to evidence-based practise with a focus on client-centred and family-centred approaches to case management, Eugene provides up-to-date therapy techniques to help both children and adults reach and achieve their goals.

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About Us

We are Dietitians and Nutritionists, Speech Pathologists and Skincare Specialists. We see adults and children from our office in Randwick. Passionate about health and wellbeing, we write about issues relevant to our clinical practice.